On June 18th at approximately 2:56 am, a Hillsborough County Sheriff Deputy observed a tan pick-up truck driving westbound on Fletcher Ave. He observed the vehicle swerve to the right side of its lane, then immediately back to the left and then immediately swerve back to the right side of its lane. Then both passenger side tires completely crossed the outside line. The Deputy next observed the vehicle entering the right turn lane, then swerved back into the westbound lane and increase its speed. The Deputy then initiated a traffic stop and made contact with the driver, the Defendant. The Deputy observed the Defendant’s eyes be watery, his speech was slurred, and there was a distinct odor of alcohol on his breath. The Deputy requested the Defendant perform field sobriety exercises, which he did poorly. On the walk and turn exercise, the Defendant was unable to remain in the start position, used his arms for balance, had to stop to steady himself and took the incorrect number of steps. On the Rhomberg alphabet exercise, the Defendant swayed back and forth as well as side to side. The Defendant did not recite the alphabet correctly. The Defendant was then arrested for DUI. He refused to submit to a breath test. Result: The firm filed a motion to suppress and on the day the motion was set to be heard, the State dropped the DUI charge.
DUI & Criminal Division
